Edamame Cucumber Sesame Salad (Printable)

Vibrant chilled edamame, cucumber, and sesame dressing combined for a fresh, light dish perfect anytime.

# Components:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 cups shelled edamame (fresh or frozen)
02 - 1 large cucumber, diced
03 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced (optional)

→ Dressing

05 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
06 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
08 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
10 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
11 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Garnish

12 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
13 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the edamame and cook for 3–5 minutes until tender. Drain and rinse under cold water to chill.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the chilled edamame, diced cucumber, green onions, and red bell pepper if using.
03 - Whisk together sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce or tamari, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds until well emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine.
05 - Sprinkle with additional toasted sesame seeds and cilantro if desired. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in twenty minutes flat, which means you can make it on a Tuesday night without losing your mind.
  • The sesame dressing is genuinely addictive and works on basically anything else you have lying around.
  • It actually tastes better the next day once everything gets to know each other, so meal prep becomes your friend.
02 -
  • Don't oversalt the edamame water or over-salt the dressing; the soy sauce is already doing a lot of work and you can always add more salt but you can't take it back.
  • The dressing won't break even though it's mostly oil and acid, because the ginger and garlic act as natural emulsifiers if you whisk them in properly.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry skillet for about two minutes until they smell nutty and alive, and you'll understand why people care so much about this detail.
  • Make the dressing first and let it sit while you prep the vegetables, which gives the flavors a chance to meld and intensify before anything else happens.
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